Locking hair sticks

ABSTRACT

A hair-retaining device to be worn on the head comprising two attached hair sticks with a sliding fastening member removably connected to each of the hair sticks. The hair sticks retain a portion of a user&#39;s hair between the hair sticks.

This application is a continuation-in-part of patent application Ser. No. 922,025 filed Aug. 2, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,427,702.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention and method relates to a hair fastener. More particularly, to hair sticks comprising beads for connecting the hair sticks and for fastening hair there between.

2. Description of Prior Art

Many people like to fasten their hair into various styles. One popular way to fasten hair is to use hair sticks. Hair sticks are effective, however, they are difficult to use because the user has to tightly wrap the hair around them and try to secure them into their hair. The current invention allows the user to secure two sticks in the hair at the same time and to easily secure the two sticks to the user's hair by attaching a bead to couple the sticks together.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide an instrument that is convenient, practical, and inexpensive for use in hair styling.

A further object is to provide an instrument that will keep a plurality of hair sticks attached together.

A further object is to provide an instrument that will keep hair secure between two hair sticks.

A further object is to provide an instrument that will keep hair secure between two beads that are attached to the two hair sticks.

A further object is to provide such an instrument that can be used unassisted by the individual styling their hair, eliminating the expense of a professional stylist.

A further object is to provide an instrument that can be reused over and over again.

A further object is to provide an instrument that will quickly hold the user's hair up in a neatly secured style.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided two hair sticks attached toward one end to form a tong-like member. The hair sticks are connected toward a second end by a removably connected bead.

According to the arrangement described above, the removably connected bead is taken off the hair sticks. The hair sticks are placed into the user's hair and the removably connected bead is secured to the hair sticks by placing the sticks through the bead hole and sliding the bead toward the captured hair section to secure the hair between the hair sticks.

Accordingly a preferred embodiment, both the first stick and the second stick is attached to form a tong-like formation and the other end of each stick is attached by a removably connected bead, which holds hair between the sticks and between the connected end of the tong-like formation and the removably connected bead. The connected side that forms the tong-like formation can be connected at the ends or can be connected closer to the center of the sticks so that there is the illusion of two sticks going through the user's hair The removably connected bead slides onto the sticks with the sticks penetrating through them. The beads are preferably somewhat resilient or the sticks have a surface that restricts movement to keep the beads from sliding back the opposite direction from where they are slid (such as protrusions, detents, or ridges along the sticks). A nonresilient bead can also be used and is kept from sliding back the opposite direction from where it is slid also by protrusions, detents, or ridges along the sticks. A double holed bead could also be used with a stick placed through each corresponding hole. Further, additional beads can be added to secure additional sections of hair to the hair sticks and between each bead.

In another embodiment both the side that holds the hair sticks in the tong-like position and the other side, are held together by a removably connected bead. A double holed bead could also be used to hold the hair sticks in the tong-like position.

In another embodiment the hair sticks are made of plastic and both the first bead that holds the hair sticks in the tong-like position (if this end isn't permanently attached) and the removably connected bead are plastic cord-lock like members. The type with a spring-loaded button used on drawstrings and the like. The cord-lock like member bead is a spring loaded bead comprising a separate button member with a hole in its side; the button member mates to the bead by placing the button member into an opening in the bead with a spring intermediate the button member and the bead; the spring makes the hole in the button member not line up with the hole in the bead when the button member isn't pressed by the user; the sticks pass through the bead by pressing the button until the hole in the button aligns with the hole in the bead. The hair sticks can have ridges along them to keep the bead from sliding back toward the opposite direction they were slid from.

A double holed cord-lock like member could also be used with one stick through each hole. Further, additional cord-lock type members can be added to secure additional sections of hair between the hair sticks and between the additional cord-like type member and the one added previously.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments given with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawings

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing the locking hair sticks according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing the locking hair sticks according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing another embodiment of the locking hair sticks according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing another embodiment of the locking hair sticks according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing another embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a plan view showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a plan view showing another embodiment of the present invention.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawings, there is illustrated locking hair sticks, generally designated by reference numeral 1, embodying the present invention. The locking hair sticks 1 comprise a first hair stick 2 and a second hair stick 3. Both hair sticks 2 and 3 have ridges 7 along their length. One side of the invention is attached to form a tong-like member 4. A bead 5 is attached to the open ends 6 of the tong-like member 4 by placing the open ends 6 into and through the bead 5. In use FIGS. 2 and 3 the hair sticks 2 and 3 are placed into the hair and the bead 5 is placed on the hair sticks 2 and 3 and slid toward the captured hair section to secure the style. The ridges 7 keep the bead 5 from sliding back after it is slid forward.

Referring to FIG. 4 of the accompanying drawings, there is illustrated locking hair sticks, generally designated by reference numeral 1′, embodying the present invention. The locking hair sticks 1′ comprise a first hair stick 2′ and a second hair stick 3′. Both hair sticks 2′ and 3′ have ridges 7′ in along their length. Each end of the hair sticks 2′ and 3′ have a bead 4′ and 14 attached toward each end 6′ of the hair sticks 2′ and 3′. The use FIGS. 5 and 6 is the same as FIGS. 2 and 3 accept that both beads 4′ and 14 can be slid toward each other with hair there between to secure. Referring to FIG. 7 the beads 4″ and 14′could have a different hole 15 and 16 for each stick 2″ and 3″. The use (not shown) is the same as FIGS. 5 and 6 except that each stick is placed into a separate hole in the beads.

Referring to FIG. 8 of the accompanying drawings, there is illustrated locking hair sticks, generally designated by reference numeral 18, embodying the present invention. The locking hair sticks 18 comprise a first hair stick 19 and a second hair stick 20. Both hair sticks 19 and 20 have ridges 8 along their length. Each end of the hair sticks 19 and 20 have a locking bead 21 and 22 removably attached thereto. Each locking bead 21 and 22 consist of a hollowed member 23 and a button member 24 both the hollowed member 23 and the button member 24 has a hole 25 and 26. The button member 24 is snapped into the hollowed member 23 with a spring 9 there between. The use is the same (not shown) as the two bead version above FIGS. 5 and 6, however, the button members 24 are pressed to align the holes 25 and 26 in order to place the hair sticks 19 and 20 into the locking bead 21 and 22. The tension from the spring 9 keeps it in place after being slid toward the captured hair. Referring to FIG. 9 each locking bead 21′ and 22′ has a different hole 25′ and 26′ for each stick 19′ and 20′. The use is the same (not shown) as above, however, the button members 24′ are pressed to align both holes on each bead 21′ and 22′ in order to place the hair sticks 19′ and 20′ each into a separate hole.

FIG. 10 shows double holed beads 27 and 28 with spaces 29 and 30, which enable the beads 27 and 28 to be snapped onto the sticks 31 and 32 before they are slid toward the captured section.

The present invention being thus described, the same may be varied in many ways. For instance, the hair sticks can be made of any material such as wood and additional beads can be attached to the sticks to capture additional hair sections. Further, any way to use the present invention obvious in the art should apply. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such variations obvious to those skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the claims, 

1. A hair-retaining device comprising two stick portions integrally attached toward one end and a sliding fastening member removably connected to the stick portions, the stick portions are capable of penetrating and passing through a hair section at the same time and the stick portions pass through the removably connected sliding fastening member allowing said sliding fastening member to secure the captured hair by sliding it toward the captured hair section; wherein the hair-retaining device is effective to retain a portion of a user's hair between the integrally attached side of the two stick portions and the sliding fastening member by placing the hair sticks through a section of the user's hair with the sliding fastening member unattached, attaching the sliding fastening member to each of the stick portions, and sliding the fastening member toward the hair section.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein the sliding fastening member is a bead.
 3. The device of claim 2, wherein the sliding fastening member has a separate hole for each stick to be inserted through.
 4. The device of claim 1, wherein the sliding fastening member has an outer or inner textured surface such as ridges, detents, dimples, or a rubberized coating to keep it from sliding back the opposite direction it was slid from until the user applies force to remove it.
 5. The device of claim 1, wherein the sliding fastening member is a spring loaded member comprising a separate button member with a hole in its side; said button member mates to the sliding fastening member by placing said button member into an opening in the sliding fastening member with a spring intermediate the button member and the sliding fastening member; the spring makes the hole in the button member not line up with the hole in the sliding fastening member when the button member isn't pressed by the user; wherein the sliding fastening member can be attached to the sticks by pressing the button until the hole in the button aligns with the hole in the bead.
 6. The device of claim 5, wherein the spring loaded member has a separate hole for each stick to be inserted.
 7. The device of claim 1, wherein the stick portions have an outer textured surface such as ridges, detents, dimples, or a rubberized coating along them to keep the sliding fastening member from sliding back the opposite direction it was slid from.
 8. The device of claim 1, wherein a second sliding fastening member is attached to the stick portions capable of capturing a second hair section between the first sliding fastening member and the second sliding fastening member.
 9. The device of claim 1, wherein a third sliding fastening member is attached to the stick portions capable of capturing a third hair section between the second sliding fastening member and the third sliding fastening member.
 10. A method of retaining hair of a human being comprising: selecting locking hair sticks comprising: two hair stick portions connected toward a first end, and a removably connected sliding member attached to a second end of the hair stick portions with each stick portion penetrating through the removably connected sliding member; placing the stick portions into or around a section of hair with the removably connected sliding member unattached; placing the second end of the stick portions through the removably connected sliding member; sliding the removably connected sliding member toward the section of hair; whereby the hair section is neatly secured and the locking hair sticks are easily removable and reusable.
 11. The method of claim 10 wherein a second hair section is placed in between the stick portions and a second removably connected sliding member is attached to the sticks portions.
 12. The method of claim 10 wherein the stick portions are attached toward the first end by a sliding fastening member, wherein the sliding fastening member is slid toward the removably connected sliding member once the retained hair is captured there between.
 13. The method of claim 10 wherein a second hair section is retained by adding a second removably connected sliding member to the second end of the hair stick portions with the second hair section there between.
 14. The method of claim 10 wherein a third hair section is retained by adding a third removably connected sliding member to the second end of the hair stick portions with the third hair section there between
 15. A hair-retaining device comprising two hair stick portions, each with a first end and a second end; the two hair sticks are coupled together by two sliding fastening members; at least one of the sliding fastening members is removably connected to each of the hair sticks, wherein the removably connected fastening member is effective to retain a portion of a user's hair between the hair sticks and the other sliding fastening member by placing the hair sticks into or around a section of the user's hair with just one of the sliding fastening members attached toward the first ends of the two hair sticks, placing the second ends of the hair sticks through the removably connected sliding fastening member, and sliding both of the sliding fastening members toward the hair section.
 16. The device of claim 15, wherein the two sliding fastening members are beads.
 17. The device of claim 16, wherein the two sliding fastening members have a separate hole for each stick to be inserted through.
 18. The device of claim 16, wherein the two sliding fastening members have an outer or inner textured surface such as ridges, detents, dimples, or a rubberized coating to keep them from sliding back the opposite direction they were slid from until the user applies force to remove them.
 19. The device of claim 15, wherein each sliding fastening member is a spring loaded member comprising a separate button member with a hole in its side; said button member mates to the sliding fastening member by placing said button member into an opening in the sliding fastening member with a spring intermediate the button member and the sliding fastening member; the spring makes the hole in the button member not line up with the hole in the sliding fastening member when the button member isn't pressed by the user; wherein the sliding fastening members can be attached to the sticks by pressing the button until the hole in the button aligns with the hole in the bead.
 20. The device of claim 19, wherein the spring loaded member has a separate hole for each stick to be inserted.
 21. The device of claim 15, wherein the hair sticks have ridges, detents, or dimples, along them in spaced relation to keep both the sliding fastening members from sliding back toward the opposite direction they were slid from.
 22. The device of claim 15, wherein a second sliding fastening member is attached to the stick portions capable of capturing a second hair section between the first sliding fastening member and the second.
 23. The device of claim 15, wherein a third sliding fastening member is attached to the stick portions capable of capturing a third hair section between the second sliding fastening member and the third. 